Valentin Vacherot reaches Monte-Carlo Masters semi-final and sets new tennis record

Valentin Vacherot’s remarkable run at his home tournament kept going as he secured a spot in the Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals.

The 27-year-old came through a three-set battle against Alex de Minaur, earning his second top-10 win of the week after taking out Lorenzo Musetti earlier on.

His win over Musetti had already put him in the record books for Monaco, and he hasn’t stopped there.

Vacherot added another milestone by defeating de Minaur, further establishing himself in Monte Carlo’s history books.

Valentin Vacherot makes Monte-Carlo history with breakthrough semi-Final run

Vacherot’s path to the semi-finals has been anything but straightforward. He opened his week with a comeback win over Cam Norrie, before going on to defeat second seed Carlos Alcaraz.

The 27-year-old then booked his place in the quarter-finals after a three-set victory over Stan Wawrinka.

OptaAce noted that by reaching the final four, Vacherot became the first player to make his debut ATP-level semi-final appearances at Masters 1000 events. This adds another milestone to a week already full of highlights.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Vacherot. He reached the Paris Masters quarter-finals last year and has now posted an 18-3 record across his past four Masters tournaments.

Valentin Vacherot thanks Monte-Carlo supporters during remarkable run

Vacherot is playing on the courts he grew up on, and the local fans have been behind him all tournament.

The 27-year-old has clearly fed off the energy from the crowd, and it played a role in his hard-fought win over de Minaur.

He managed to save 13 break points in a gruelling three-set contest, something the fans appreciated every step of the way.

The crowd has made its presence felt all week at Monte-Carlo, and Vacherot was quick to acknowledge just how much their support meant to him.

“All the guys in the crowd chanting, they are my best friends from when I was nine, 10 years old,” Vacherot said. “It is rare for a player to have this chance to have this many people around. The members sat in the boxes. I am so lucky to have a tournament in my club.”

Next up for Vacherot is a first career meeting with world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

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